Potential first-round landing spots becoming clearer for Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart as 2025 NFL Draft nears
The 2025 NFL Draft is only a few weeks away, meaning the buzz around the league can sometimes be a little convoluted. Only a percentage of the rumors have legs to them, while the rest becomes fodder for people to talk about. But Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart hopes the swirling discussions about his future […]
The 2025 NFL Draft is only a few weeks away, meaning the buzz around the league can sometimes be a little convoluted. Only a percentage of the rumors have legs to them, while the rest becomes fodder for people to talk about. But Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart hopes the swirling discussions about his future landing spot possibilities are far from false.
After trailing behind Cameron Ward and Shedeur Sanders throughout the 2025 NFL Draft process, Dart is hoping to parlay his stellar season into being a first-round pick. His analytical profile is excellent, and he has the traits of being an NFL starter.
ESPN NFL draft analysts Jordan Reid, Field Yates, and Matt Miller discussed the draft buzz and shared their predictions on the likelihood of Dart being selected in the first round.
Reid estimated a 75 percent chance, which was the lowest among the trio. Yates increased the odds to 90 percent, while Miller expressed strong confidence with a 95 percent chance.
Reid added, "I've heard he's actually the second-best QB on some teams' boards. That bodes well for his first-round potential. Pairing Dart with Rams coach Sean McVay and allowing him to sit and develop behind Matthew Stafford for multiple seasons in L.A. would be the best-case scenario for him."
Yates went even further, stating, "Dart could start right away with a team such as the Steelers (No. 21), and the Saints (No. 9) or Rams (No. 26) might view him as an eventual starter. Additionally, we could see a team such as the Browns trade up from early Round 2 into late Round 1, securing Dart and the fifth-year option that comes with all first-round contracts."
Finally, Miller, said, "I think it's really likely Dart goes in Round 1. In my talks with scouts this past week, the expectation is that his predraft process has been too successful for him to get past the first 32 picks. The three teams Field mentioned — the Steelers, Saints and Rams — are all obvious fits for his services. The only thing that would prevent him from getting picked in Round 1 is if Sanders fell to Pittsburgh at pick No. 21 overall, which in turn could push Dart down the board. But I really don't see that happening."
Dart recorded 4,276 passing yards and 29 touchdowns against only six interceptions in 2024. Additionally, he added 495 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Much of his performance last season was integrated into the Ole Miss offense, and he will need to broaden his field vision while avoiding making costly mistakes in his passing game.
